The genogram as a means to characterize the family structure of elderly patients with cognitive impairment in poverty contexts

Abstract

The evaluation of a family composition can be obtained by a specific tool called genogram, and contributes to the elderly adequate care planning. The goal of this study is to identify the family structure of elderly patients with cognitive impairment registered in Family Healthcare Centers of socially vulnerable regions. We realized individual home interviews based on assumptions of the quantitative investigation method and we obtained 45 genograms. Ethical issues in research were respected. Results show that the family composition of poor elderly patients is multigenerational; families with seven members were seen. Most part of the patients was 60 to 75 years old, had a low education level, were married and lived with a stable companion and their children. Some of them also lived with their grandchildren. The most common disease was arterial hypertension. Most elderly patients reported having a regular relation with the family members. The genogram showed to be a useful tool to delineate the family structure of poor elderly patients. It may be used by healthcare professionals, especially by nurses, since they work directly with the family members.